Matthew 14:25

[Chris]

Tonight at Bible study, we looked at Matthew 14: 22-34. During the discussion, one member pointed to Matt. 14:25 and mentioned a “documentary” he had seen which implied Jesus was levitating! WOW. My eyes popped open! I had never heard that possibility mentioned in my whole life! (I was brought up in SBC, where the prevailing teaching is that "Eastern religions" are full of baloney!). The KJV says “walking on the sea”. New Oxford, New Living Translation, Williams and Beck use the preposition “on”. Living Bible says “on the water”. ASV, & NAS says “walking upon the sea”.

Matthew probably saw no reason to mention whether Jesus feet were wet or dry. Did “on” (or “upon”) mean his feet were “above” the surface, or “in” the water? Was Matt in the front of the boat where he could see clearly?

We know Jesus knew the art of levitation. See Acts 1:9

[Dave Roberts]

The "nature miracles" like this one are often the ones with which we struggle for explanations. Frankly, I do not have a good one. Levitation seems just one of many efforts either to explain or explain away that which defies our understanding. Maybe someone else has a better explanation. Levitation is not one I have encountered in any scholarly efforts.

[Ed Pettibone]